DCS to release remaining files 'quickly as possible'

May 17, 2013

Written by

The Tennessean

The Department of Children’s Services said Thursday that it will release remaining files of child deaths or near deaths sought by The Tennessean and other media groups “as quickly as possible” and without waiting for a court order.

“Now that the court has determined which documents are open to the public, we stand ready to produce the remaining 100 plus records to the court as quickly as possible without waiting on any additional orders,” DCS Commissioner Jim Henry said in a prepared statement.

On Friday, Chancellor Carol McCoy released the first 42 of more than 200 DCS records sought by the media groups that sued for access. McCoy, who must review each file before releasing it, ordered the next 50 released June 7.

DCS spokeswoman Molly Sudderth said the announcement does not change DCS’ plans to appeal McCoy’s ruling that the agency can charge no more than 50 cents per copy. Agency officials said they intend to recoup more than $30,000 of the cost of preparing records for release.